Container opening caps



Sept. 17, 1968 J. P. sALAMoNE I CONTAINER OPENING CAPs Filed March 22,1967 United States Patent O 3,401,819 CONTAINER OPENING CAPS Joseph P.Salarnone, 1405 Wentworth Ave., Chicago Heights, lll. 60411 Filed Mar.22, 1967, Ser. No. 625,238 Claims. (Cl. 220-48) ABSTRACT 0F THEDISCLOSURE A container which receives a screw cap at the top. Within thecap the container has a top sealed to the container after the same hasbeen filled. Such top is formed in a manner to be opened as the cap isscrewed down. The top formation is a circular scoring line around theinner portion, the material of the top being raised along the scoringline with an annular L-iiage. The cap head depends with a pair ofdiametrically-positioned hooks which are spaced to lie above theL-flange and yieldable to snap into engagement with the bill thereofwhen the cap is mounted on the container with downpressure. A turn ofthe cap in the downscrewing direction causes the hooks to impinge on theL-ange and break the inner portion of the container into the same fromthe scoring circle. Such portion therefore become separable with the capwhen the latter is unscrewed, and may be removed from the cap if thelatter is returned to the container as a closure.

My invention relates to cans and similar containers which have apermanent top. Usually, a can opener of one form or anothermanual orelectrical-is employed for opening a can of this type; and theavailability of such an opener is often a problem. Also, more or lesseffort or difficulty may be involved in the application of the opener,not to speak of the hazard of suffering a cut from a jagged edge or theprojection of a tab cut from the top of the can.

While the use of a separate can opener has become commonplace for thepurpose mentioned, the present invention has for its main object tocombine an opener with the can or like container, and operable by hand,whereby to have the opener instantly available when a can or likecontainer is to be opened.

A further object is to provide an opener which is incorporated in a capforming the closure for the container, the opener being fully concealedin the cap.

Another object is to design the opening feature in the closure cap in amanner enabling the container to be opened by an easy and quick turn ofthe cap.

Still another object is to provide an opening feature in a cap whichcreates a waste blank momentarily and removable after the can is opened,enabling the cap to be replaced as a full closure the same as caps forjars, bottles and the like, so that the container may be used foranother iilling, or to retain a part of its contents for removal atanother time.

An important object is to construct the novel containeropening cap alonglines of simplicity and for eicient mechanical operation.

A better understanding of the invention may be gained by reference tothe accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan View of the cap and container, partly in section;and FIG. 2 is a vertical section.

Referring specifically to the drawing, denotes the wall of a can orsimilar container adapted to receive a round closure cap 12. it is notedthat the latter and the container wall are joined by screw threads 13,as is the common practice. The container may be plain at its upper end,or made with an interlocking joint to seal a top 17 to the container 10.

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For the purpose of the present invention, the center part of the top 11is re-enforced marginally by an L- flange 18; and the top 12a of the capis formed with pendent lugs 20 terminating with outward hooks 20a. Thematerial of the cap is hard plastic, but that of the lugs 20 has ayieldable factor, in order that the hooks 20a may snap into engagementwith the bill of the L-iiange 18 when the cap is depressed and secure afirm engagement with the top 11.

The top of the can is made with a circular scoring line 22 immediatelyaround the L-flange 18 whereby to weaken the top along the outer edge ofthe L-flange. Thus,

when the cap is screwed down to a short extent, the lugs 20 will exertsucient pressure on the L-flange to sever the internal portion of thecan top from the balance and open the can.

It will be apparent that the action just explained should require verylittle turning effort by the average person; and such effort iseffective to open the can instantly, which is a decided advantage overthe operation of handoperated can openers and even electrical ones.Further, once the can has been opened the blank defined by the L-flangemay be extracted after the cap has been unscrewed, and discarded. Insuch case, the contents of the can may be dispensed fully, or someretained for future use and preserved by reclosing the cap in the mannerof ordinary caps. The invention therefore imposes no strange operation,and requires no new technique or knowledge when the user learns thatsimply screwing down the cap opens the container. Finally, it isapparent that the invention applies not only to cans and the like, butto any container with a metallic or plastic top, which may be a jar,bottle, piggy-bank or other receptacle which is normally closed at thetop when received by the user. It is therefore signicant that theinvention has utility both from the viewpoints of simplicity,versatility and facility of operation.

I claim:

1. The combination with a container having a threaded wall and a capassembled with the latter in threading relation; of a top for thecontainer having a medial section formed with a rising annular L-flangeseparated from the outer section by a circular scoring line, and meanscarried by the cap engaging the L-flange with downpressure to sever saidscoring line when the cap is screwed down, the L-flange and medialsection becoming separated from the outer section in such event.

2. The structure of claim 1, said means being pendent lugs connected tothe L-ilange.

3. The structure of claim 1, said means being pendent lugs straddlingthe bill of the L-flange from the side.

4. The structure of claim 1, the bill of the L-ange being on its innerside, and said means being pendent lugs straddling said bill from theside.

5. The structure of claim 1, said means being pendent lugs with openingson the side facing the bill of the L- flange, and the lugs beingyieldable to first trip on said bill when the cap is screwed down andreceive the bill in said opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,850,911 3/1932 Barlow 220-482,152,001 3/1939 Temple 221-81 3,163,317 12/1964 Biedenstein et al.220-27 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner.

